Jonah Patel
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception in 1787. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791. The Bill of Rights was added to limit federal power and protect individual liberties. The Ninth Amendment, for example, protects unenumerated rights such as the right to travel, vote, and privacy. The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures. Other amendments include the Twentieth Amendment (1933), which shortens the transition period for a newly elected president, vice president, and Congress, and the Twenty-second Amendment (1951), which limits the president to two terms in office. The process of amending the Constitution involves two steps: the proposal and ratification of amendments. Despite facing criticism and influencing other nations' constitutions, the US Constitution remains a foundational document of American democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| First 10 Amendments | Bill of Rights |
| Date of Ratification of Bill of Rights | December 15, 1791 |
| Reason for Adding the Bill of Rights | To limit government power and safeguard individual liberty |
| Number of Amendments Proposed by Congress | ~150 per two-year term |
| Number of Amendments Approved by Congress | 6 |
| Number of Amendments Not Ratified | 4 |
| Twentieth Amendment (1933) | Changes date of new president, vice president, and Congress taking office |
| Twenty-second Amendment (1951) | Limits an elected president to two terms in office |
| Fourth Amendment | Protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures |
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What You'll Learn
The Bill of Rights
The United States Constitution has had 27 amendments, the first of which was the Bill of Rights, comprising the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because it lacked limits on government power. Federalists advocated for a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists wanted power to remain with state and local governments and favoured a bill of rights to safeguard individual liberty.
The first Congress added what became the Ninth Amendment as a compromise. The rights protected by the Ninth Amendment are not specified and are referred to as "unenumerated". The Supreme Court has found that these rights include the right to travel, the right to vote, the right to privacy, and the right to make important decisions about one's health care or body.
The Fourth Amendment protects the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures. It also states that no warrants shall be issued without probable cause and that warrants must particularly describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
The Twentieth Amendment (1933) changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office, shortening the time between Election Day and the beginning of their terms. The Twenty-second Amendment (1951) limits an elected president to two terms in office, for a total of eight years.
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The Ninth Amendment
James Madison, a Federalist and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, shared the concern that enumerating various rights could "enlarge the powers delegated by the constitution." However, he proposed a compromise by pledging to offer amendments after the Constitution's ratification. Madison introduced nineteen draft amendments to the House of Representatives in 1789, including what would become the Ninth Amendment.
While the Ninth Amendment clarifies that the enumeration of certain rights does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people, there is much dispute among constitutional scholars about its precise meaning and legal effect. The courts have generally not relied upon it and have not considered it as a limitation or expansion of governmental power.
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The Fourth Amendment
The historical context of the Fourth Amendment differs significantly from the modern world. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, policing in most countries, including the United States, was primarily conducted by citizens on nighttime patrols, while elected sheriffs and constables held formal leadership positions. However, as American cities grew, the demand for full-time police officers to maintain law and order increased. The Boston Police Department, founded in 1854, was the country's first municipal police force.
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The Twentieth Amendment
Prior to the Twentieth Amendment, the Constitution stated that the annual meeting of Congress was to be on the first Monday in December unless another date was set by law. This meant that when a new Congress was elected in November, they did not take office until the following March, resulting in a "'lame duck' session of Congress." The Twentieth Amendment aimed to address this issue by moving the beginning of the president's term from March 4 to January 20 and the beginning of Congressional terms to January 3, thereby reducing the presidential transition period and the time between Election Day and the start of the new administration's term.
The amendment also includes provisions for determining the course of action when there is no president-elect. It establishes that the incoming Congress, rather than the outgoing one, will hold a contingent election in the event of an Electoral College deadlock in the presidential or vice presidential elections. Additionally, it specifies that if the president-elect dies before taking office, the vice president-elect shall become president.
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The Twenty-second Amendment
Before the Twenty-second Amendment was passed, the president was not subject to term limits. However, the first and third presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, decided not to run for a third term, establishing a two-term tradition. Roosevelt was the only president to be elected for a third and fourth term in the 1940 and 1944 presidential elections, giving rise to concerns about a president serving unlimited terms.
The amendment also addresses the eligibility of individuals who have acted as president for more than two years of a term to which another person was elected. While it limits them to only one additional term, it does not prevent them from serving out the remainder of the term they assumed. This provision ensured that the amendment would not affect any sitting presidents or those acting as president at the time of its proposal.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bill of Rights was added to the US Constitution to limit the powers of the government. It was ratified on December 15, 1791, and includes the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
The Fourth Amendment protects the people against unreasonable searches and seizures. It states that no warrants shall be issued without probable cause and that the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized must be specifically described.
The Twentieth Amendment, added in 1933, changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office, shortening the transition period.
The Ninth Amendment protects unenumerated rights, such as the right to travel, the right to privacy, and the right to make important decisions about one's health.
